Val Lee's Writings

A friend of mine is considered a marked one by many who pass by her. When I say marked one, I mean one society has marked out as devalued. They do not see the sweet and sensitive heart that lies within her. They simply scrutinize through their twisted perception that here lies an unattractive and deformed face. They say “ugly” in their mind as they pass by and sometimes by a snide look. The truth is, the right side of her face is oddly paralyzed and she cannot close her right eye, which is sensitive to light. She must don sunglasses when outside.

I personally do not perceive her as ugly. I think her face reveals character, fortitude and beauty.

You may be asking at this point, how did this facial obscurity occur? Several years ago, she was in a horrendous car accident, being struck by a drunk driver, an illegal alien. It is totally by the grace of God that she is present on the earth this day. She suffered injury to the brain …deformation and amnesia resulted. She was only three feet tall when they retrieved her from the compressed wreckage. She was lifeless and they had to revive her. Upon observation, they thought she might be a child and could have placed her in a bucket. After three days, they started to pull her adult body back to size. The doctor informed her she would never walk again.

She recovered from the amnesia after a couple of months. Her husband wheel-chaired her around a lovely Park to brighten her misshapen days. You and I cannot even begin to imagine her pain, sadness and the face of present reality.

This marked only the beginning of her tragedies. While she was still recovering, her husband was killed in a car accident, though not by a drunk driver. She was devastated and it still pricks her heart to pain. They loved each other with all their hearts!

Her husband worked out of Chicago as a CEO for a large company, which maintained various branch offices. One of his stops was Boise, Idaho. He and his pretty wife partook in the upper echelon of Boise society when in the area. I might add, because of my friend’s husband’s rank and fortune, she was very pampered and lived a princess type lifestyle until her earth quaked.

The extreme, tragic happenings that tore my friend’s heart was not the end of her woes as both her parents also passed away soon after. Her affectionate memories of them had assisted in her recovery. They loved their precious and prestigious daughter. Personally, I cannot even begin to imagine her grief, however, she relates to it often.

My friend had to learn to venture out into general society, which was an arduous task—she had been secluded and protected in a type of wonder bubble. Her life had been so fairytale-like that reality was hard to swallow, especially in light of the fact her beauty had drifted away like a small pillow-like floating cloud.

She has received many blessings in all her trials including the fact she walks perfectly well by God’s grace of healing. She has become a gifted artist as you can see by one of her pieces above. She sketched this in New York City, just previous to 9/11. She also possesses other friends who see beyond her disconcerting facial mask.

I want to say in closing that tomorrow holds no guarantees for any of us; James 4:14 and Proverbs 27:1. Please remember, Jesus Christ died for your sins, and is ready for you to receive Him as your Savior that you might call Him LORD. (1 John 5:10-13—the Bible) paradise

I had my socks blessed off me when I experienced one of the best days of my life. I went with three other ladies to pass out Bibles to medical facilities. The Lord worked beyond what we could ask or think! He opened doors to place His Word in needy hands. Yes, we had some refusals, but over all, most were very happy to have Bibles placed in their offices. In the back of these New Testaments (which include Psalms & Proverbs) is the salvation message and helpful ministry tools are in the front.

One lovely lady, who I offered a New Testament to, reached out and received it as one receiving a precious and costly jewel. May her beaming face stay implanted in my mind. Another lady in a waiting room gratefully took a Testament from me and immediately started reading. May these two ladies and all who received Bibles be saved!

One sweet physical therapist graciously thanked us for what we were doing. She powerfully gleamed with the love of the Holy Spirit. Another man in an office accounted to us how he was most thankful for our ministry as he received a Testament when he was in the military.

One of our ladies blessed me by her boldness at one office. I had asked a receptionist if we could leave a Bible for their patrons and she strongly replied that the doctor wouldn’t allow it. She was very firm, unfriendly and held a spiteful countenance. I did not dare offer her a New Testament gift, but the lady who was with me was not intimidated and offered one to her. The lady appeared offended at first—as if she was not going to refuse it, but then her countenance changed and she received it with a half-smile and a thank you. I was so grateful for my bold accomplice!

All our ladies were blessed beyond belief. One placed a Testament in the hands of a woman that was extremely thrilled to receive one. She joyfully revealed she had not received one since grade school. The lady who placed it in her hand loves passing out Testaments as she received one as a child and it meant so much to her. My husband, Alan, received one when men came into his grade school and presented Testaments to all the children. A few decades ago, Bibles were freely dispersed in America’s schoolrooms. Looking at our country’s history it is interesting to note that the Bible was read in public school classrooms, holding an essential part in education. Teachers would state they were now going to read God’s Word when opening to a text.

We know a bold high school public school teacher who at one time relayed to Alan and others that he keeps Testaments in his lower desk drawer to have available for secular students. He gives out approximately 100 a year. He also keeps a Bible on his desk. Last year a student stated to him that he could not have a Bible on his desk and he knew as his father was a member of the ACLU. A large Russian exchange student approached the instructor’s desk and boldly stated, “Don’t ever say anything against the Bible as my father’s life was saved through a Bible.” One had been given to his father when he was drunk. His father was an alcoholic with failing health. His father went home and read the Bible and was saved. His wife and three children (this boy included) also received Christ.

I was also touched by a story in a newsletter, which told of Maria and Anna. They are cousins and were traveling to Uruguay. They overheard a meeting were testimonies were being shared in a restaurant. This night, by ordained appointment, they learned who had placed the precious Word in their hotel that had changed and saved their lives.

Seven years previous, these cousins were vacationing in Buenos Aires when they discovered a Gideon New Testament in their hotel room. Both of them wanted to read it so they took turns. Anna stated “It was like one of us would have the little book for breakfast, the other for lunch and the other for dinner.” Maria shared further “It was the presence of God in my life coming as a little book … God put this treasure in my way, and He has changed my life in ways I could not begin to explain.” The cousins received the Word together and salvation together.

As a side note, I would like to ask Christians to inquire at medical facilities if they have a Bible on hand to read. This will encourage them to have Bibles available in waiting areas.